Unable to connect Westell 6100 DSL modem to Linksys WRT54G...

...Either through the WAN port, or the switch/LAN port.

I read somewhere that most DSL modems have gateway firmware built into them, but I can't find any way to "get into" it like you would most routers at 192.168.1.1.

As long as the DSL modem is connected directly to a computer, I'm fine. Once I hook it up to the WAN or LAN ports on my router, absolutely nothing works.

I suppose I should call Verizon tech support, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me while the phone jockeys are asleep.

Thanks!

Well, I woke up this morning...And 192.168.1.1 works now. So I will just poke around and google stuff. Thanks! :O

I'm not very expereinced with dsl modems but I have not came across a dsl modem that had gw fw unless it was advertsied as an 'all-in-one' unit. There should be a quick setup card or something to help get you started. I have a wrt54g and there is a section there for mac address cloning, perhaps that would help out. I had similar symptoms a few years ago on cable, and the only thing that fixed it was a mac address clone.

My DSL modem actually has firmware in it...It has a DHCP server, a firewall, among other things. I was on the phone with Verizon for an hour at least, and the girl was totally befuddled. She had no idea why it wasn't working. We were following the exact same steps that she had done hundreds of times before for other customers.

Do I clone the MAC address of my DSL modem and use the DHCP on the modem, or DHCP on the router?

She told me to...Disable DHCP on the DSL modem, and enable DHCP on the router. Tried that. No luck. There was no WAN IP or anything. She told me to call Linksys...bleh

This really isn't working out the way I want it to. Feels like I wasted the setup money.

Network traffic cannot traverse two NAT devices connected like you describe without advanced configuration and equipment.

I am assuming that you need the linksys for wireless devices only? This info applies only if yes.

First step, get your modem working properly without the linksys connected. If your provider gives you a static address, then you should enter that on the WAN side of the modem and disable DHCP. If your provider is using dynamic addresses, than enable dhcp on your modem. Test it with your workstation to verify connectivity. If yes, go to next step.

Now you need to change the operating mode of the Linksys from Gateway to Access Point. You also need to find a diagram showing how to connect it to a gateway in Access Point mode. I have used devices in AP mode by connecting the WAN port of the router to the LAN port of the modem.

You may need a crossover cable if your modem does not have auto mdi(x) jacks. It's not hard to make if you have an rj45 crimper. Just google ethernet crossover cable and you should be able to find step-by-step.

So check your connectivity lights on both devices. If good, then in the admin of the linksys, try running some diags, pings, or tracerts for connectivity. It should work at this point.

This should get you started on the right track. Tomorrow I will be adding a WRT54G to a network as an access point so if you still have problems, I will be more familiar with the linksys tomorrow.

Also, the DHCP Server feature applies to LAN devices only. You could disable it on the modem but leavign it enabled will ease troubleshooting for now.

Set the WAN on the linksys to DHCP and it should pick the address up from the modem. And the DHCP Server on the linksys will apply to wireless and LAN devices connected only to it.

Another tip is to make the Linksys LAN subnet different than the dsl modem LAN subnet. Like 192.168.1.x and 192.168.2.x because it has the potential to mess up NAT unless your device has fw to resolve it properly. If both admins are set to 192.168.1.1 it won't be able to route properly for obvious reasons.

You can't use the WAN port on the Linksys WRT54G if you're not using its routing functions. I just tested it right now. It has to be on one of its other 4 ports.

Personally, I would disable routing on the Westell 6100 and change it to Bridge mode, disabling pretty much ALL the features on the Westell.

Then plug a cable going from the Westell's port into the Linksys' WAN port, and set up the Linksys to perform all the routing, DHCP, etc. You have to configure the Linksys' to know what type of connection you have as well as any applicable login information. Since it's DSL, it's likely that you have PPPoE and have a login/password, but someone else recently asked the almost exact same question as you with the EXACT same devices and it turns out they DIDN'T have PPPoE (which I found very strange.) Check out his thread:
http://www.tribalwar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=458487

The Linksys is a better device with much more capabilities.

Excellent. My wife is using DSL with a 149 ping!!!!! (If you remember my other thread in the general discussion)

I am currently on the cable connection, with a 469 ping. :| It's refreshing to know that the DSL has a better latency...though the download and upload aren't as high.

As soon as she goes to bed, I will dedicate that time until my eyelids shut, to getting the DSL modem sharable. Thanks everyone! I will keep you posted.

Good thread, and good information. I'll try it all out and get back.

Hah. Get this...The latest firmware changelog for the WRT54G Ver 6, dated 11/27/06 ...

Last Firmware Version: 1.01.1

Firmware 1.01.1
- Resolves issue with IP address assignment via DHCP on some particular devices.

Maybe I can WAN it and just hope? Or should I do what Guff did?

Do what I suggested above. Find out if your connection is DHCP or PPPoE first and proceed accordingly. Best to set your Westell to bridge mode and use the Linksys for all the routing.

Okay, get ready for some screenshots. I tried doing exactly what Guff was doing, but every time I tried to enter the gateway into the IP for the linksys router, it said, "Gateway not directly reachable through that interface."

So here goes:

Westell 6100 at factory defaults

VC Configuration (http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/config.gif)
DHCP Configuration (http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/dhcpconfig.gif)
Private LAN Configuration (http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/privatelanconfig.gif)
Public LAN Configuration (http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/publanconfig.gif)
WAN Configuration (http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/wanconfig.gif)

After I had made the changes to the VC and Public/Private LAN configurations, I could no longer get to my modem via 192.168.1.1 or any other means that I knew about--so I had to reset the entire modem with the reset button on the back. This set the modem back to factory defaults.

It also launched my DSL activation, AGAIN. For the fourth time. However, from what I can tell, I do not have PPPoE.

We'll start from scratch. My modem right now is set to factory defaults.

I go into VC configuration (first screenshot) and set both modes to bridge. This is what it looks like now:

http://www.ksrmanning.com/tw/bridge.gif

Then hook it up to the WAN port of my Linksys router, and do what with which options?

Did you flash to the latest firmware? If so, go into the Linksys' config page and just set the connection type to Automatic (DHCP) or something like that, assuming you DON'T have PPPoE.

Oh, and make sure the DHCP setting for the Private Lan on your Westell is disabled.

I'm on my father-in-law's computer at the moment. I have to go get ready for work. I won't be home until midnight your time iNVAR. This really sucks though.

I flashed to the latest firmware for my Linksys router, and was messing with some options. After STILL not getting the DSL to work through my router, I went and wasted time playing some single player games waiting for you to reply.

Since your reply, I haven't been able to get back into my router using 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1 (which I think I set it to). After I release, it says the numbers are not bound to DHCP and are automatically assigned and cannot be released. Once I try to renew, it hangs for a few minutes, and returns the error that the DHCP server could not be found (my router).

I'll try to make it home on my lunch break to see if you have replied...otherwise, I won't be home until later. Sorry, and thank you!!!

Okay, I barely had enough time...

I went from automatically setting my IP to typing the values in for my router, and I was able to get back into my router. It is set for automatic.

I'll be back after work!

you're going to have to be less ambiguous when you say 'router' because both of your devices are actually router, so let's go with calling it Westell and Linksys. less confusing, although i think by router you did mean the Linksys, right? anyway...

ugh i don't know why you're running into these problems. it should be straightforward.

give the linksys a different IP address than the Westell (the Westell probably has 192.168.1.1 subnet 255.255.255.0 so give the Linksys 192.168.2.1 subnet 255.255.255.0... that way they're on completely different subnets and don't conflict)

your Westell should be set to bridge mode as you already did above i think. in the private lan setting of the Westell, disable the DHCP server. hook up your Westell to the WAN port of the Linksys. connect your computer to the Linksys, which should've automatically grabbed an IP address from the Linksys of 192.168.2.xxx. set the linksys' internet/wan connection type to Automatic/DHCP. the linksys should now grab an IP address from your ISP.

Okay.

I set the Westell to bridge/bridge, went into Private LAN settings, disabled DHCP but kept Private LAN enabled. I connected my Westell to my Linksys, and I am now getting a domain of myhome.westell.com with an IP of 192.168.2.100 - It seems like it's working so far...except--

The "Internet" light on my DSL modem is no longer lit up; just the DSL light.

I think we're on the right track, but for some reason, the Internet light on my DSL modem is now turned off. I have to go back to work, on my lunch break at the moment, but I will be back in 2 hours or something.

Okay. I'm home now.

First thing I did was turn the Westell on and off, and didn't even bother watching it reset. Just sat down at my computer. (The modem is inside the house, if you remember, we live in the back yard)

It's working. I am on the DSL, on my Linksys. YAY!

Thanks everybody for your help!

Yep, that's right. The Internet light isn't supposed to be on anymore because it's not routing. Congrats. Now you should consider flashing your Linksys with DD-WRT ;) But read the instructions carefully first.